Valkyrie
Enegren Brewing Company

ValkyrieValkyrie
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From:
Enegren Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Altbier
Ranked #33
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,228
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 10.1%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
81
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 19, 2023
Added:
Jul 31, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  6
Valkyrie is brewed following the traditions of one of the oldest beer styles in Germany - alt literally means "old" in German. However our version is a little stronger, maltier and darker than most of its German counterparts. Brewed with dark munich and pilsner malts imported from Germany, Valkyrie has a smooth toasty and caramel taste with hints of chocolate and sweetness balanced by a hefty dose of German Nobel hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by swbws:
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Rated by swbws

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

Nov 20, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.34/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a 12oz can at a Total Wine in San Diego canned on 10/20/2023. Considering I was in Düsseldorf a few weeks ago, I’m excited to try an American representation of the style. About halfway through I’d say this is on par with the average Altbier in Düsseldorf, which is still great. Difficult to get close to Schumacher. Sweet and rich with a slight earthiness and almost smoked quality. Extremely enjoyable and really impressive for an American Altbier!
Dec 19, 2023
Photo of argock
Reviewed by argock from Virginia

3.79/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
No canned on date. Served in a pinot noir glass.

A: Pleasing dark amber hue with 1-finger light beige foamy head with good retention and thin line of sticky lacing.

S: Extreme dark bread crust, a little melanoidin heavy for me, and burnt medium caramel malty aromas.

T: Flavor is strong Munich malt bread crust and melanoidin with a dull, medium-intensity bitterness and no alcohol presence with long bready-burnt caramel aftertaste.

M: Light-medium body with medium-high carbonation to give a dry finish.

O: I enjoyed Valkyrie but I think the Munich malt component is a bit melanoidin-heavy to the point of hurting drinkability.
Dec 30, 2022
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

3.94/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a red solo cup. Amber looking. Off white head.
Nose has a faint malt biscuit aroma.
Taste is roasty malt biscuit. There's a good hint of caramel on the backside.
The body is decent.
This is a good beer.
Dec 11, 2022
Photo of jrc1093
Reviewed by jrc1093 from Connecticut

3.92/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
No canning date; consumed on 9/5/22

Pours a clear, burnt mahogany body capped with multiple fingers of rich, fluffy, pale beige foam; good head retention leaves a finger of rocky cap, a moderate, creamy collar, and respectable spread of splotchy, soapy lacing caked around the walls of the glass.

Aromas of smoked toffee open to brown sugar contrasts as touches of plum invigorate undertones of toasted grain and dates, leaving a minerality easing through rustic yeast on the close.

Taste offers brown sugar and candied plums upfront, with a slight minerality opening to brown bread dough and a subtle roastiness over the mid-palate easing an initial sweetness; floral undertones evolve on the back end as sticky caramels meld to shreds of burnt potpourri on the finish.

Mouthfeel features a light body and a creamy, moderate-high carbonation dispersing a fluffy spritz over a dry mid-palate as a prickly silk imparts a wispy bittering in the backdrop of a pillowy, clean finish.

This stateside take on the traditional German style deviates in standard to appease its sweeter leanings, drying over time to a woody, floral balance with delayed attenuation.
Sep 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jul 21, 2022
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Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dark amber brown pour with two fingers of tan foam with splotches of lacing. Smells of earth, rustic alt yeast, dried date, and whisper of metal. Taste avoids the metal thnakfully: big yeast and earth, toasted caramel, oxidized date, and earthy hops with crusty brown bread rounding out. Feel is sharp and yeasty, not the traditional rising but close, on the hoppier side, but hey it's from california so that is not a shocker, somewhat chewy with the breadiness resulting from the yeast.
Jul 16, 2022
Photo of WunderLlama
Reviewed by WunderLlama from Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can received in Bif15 from @beersnake1

Chilled can poured into a Schilling stemmed Pilsener glass produces a three three finger taupe foam cap , decent retention over a cola colored liquid

Brewers Notes: Valkyrie is brewed following the traditions of one of the oldest beer styles in Germany - alt literally means "old" in German. However our version is a little stronger, maltier and darker than most of its German counterparts. Brewed with dark munich and pilsner malts imported from Germany, Valkyrie has a smooth toasty and caramel taste with hints of chocolate and sweetness balanced by a hefty dose of German Nobel hops.

Aroma is sweet malt

Taste is sweet malt , toasty, caramel

Smooth, sudsy , gentle hop nibble Bob the finish

Good beer, prosit @beersnake1
Jun 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

May 24, 2022
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured reddish amber and transparent into my basic pint glass. The yellow-beige head built quickly and dissipated almost as quickly, leaving regular lacing.
The aroma was faint, for me that’ll the norm, but I did get some dried fruit and biscuits.
The taste was surprisingly complex, far more flavors in there than your standard amber ale. Deeper malts and very well balanced hops keep things from getting too sweet.
The feel is ideal, this is easily crushed.
May 08, 2022
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

4.02/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Clear, mahogany red body; coarse, dense carbonation; thick, frothy head. Malty nose with a nice earthy spiciness; toasted grain and sugar. Outstanding malt-forward flavor; toasted grain; earthy spiciness; dull cinnamon; moderate hop bitterness; slight nuttiness. Medium body; crisp with a slight prickliness on the palate; sticky; some sweetness, some dryness.

This is a very enjoyable amber ale. A bit sweet yet balanced with a rustic earthiness and nuttiness.

Pouring temperature: 45 °F; canning data: unknown
Apr 25, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Marvicsin from California

Apr 09, 2022
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Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours a beautiful amber color - semi-transparent. A good amount of tan/off-white head and dissipates after a couple of minutes. The nose is wonderful. Brown sugar, toffee, dark bread, apple, pear, a bit of leather, and some sweet candy. Very malt forward on the nose. The taste nicely follows the nose. Very vibrant and flavorful. Again, lots of caramel malts. Bread, pears, figs, slight maple, and a hint of hops on the back end. Absolutely lovely beer from Enegren.
Mar 15, 2022
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Reviewed by ThirstyBird from California

3.4/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
I am making a very limited return to rate a couple of Altbiers which is a little passion of mine. This little version is slightly vinous, sweet, tangy and fruity. It's drinkable but not really anything like the Dusseldorf altbiers. I suppose it's an American version which I personally don't find particularly interesting.
Mar 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.97 by acurtis from New Jersey

Mar 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.96 by jakecattleco from California

Nov 27, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by BabaBeer from California

Nov 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by retry4z from California

Oct 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.44 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Aug 04, 2021
Valkyrie from Enegren Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 81 ratings